Gun barrel cleaning device with quick-detachable cleaning implement

ABSTRACT

A gun barrel cleaning device includes a quick-detachable coupling mechanism releasably coupling a handle to a cleaning implement for cleaning a gun barrel bore. A thrust bearing is preferably provided for supporting the cleaning implement on the handle and for facilitating axial rotation of the cleaning implement relative to the handle. The gun barrel cleaning device may comprise part of a gun barrel cleaning kit, which may include a variety of different cleaning implements. A novel sheath for storing a gun barrel bore-cleaning implement is also disclosed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to gun barrel cleaning devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Known gun barrel cleaning devices include a handle connected to anelongate rod or flexible cable, cord, or other length of materialsupporting a brush, swab, or other type of cleaning jag that is pushedor pulled through the bore of the gun barrel to remove residue ordebris. In most known cleaning devices, the rod or other cleaningimplement is either permanently connected or threadably attached to thehandle. To prevent damage to rifled surfaces of the bore, the cleaningimplement should be allowed to rotate as it moves through the barrel. Insome bore cleaning devices, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.1,556,494 of Cooper and 3,208,302 of Lewis et al., the handle includesone or more bearings for reducing frictional resistance to rotation ofthe cleaning implement about its longitudinal axis relative to thehandle under axial loading conditions that occur when pushing andpulling the cleaning implement through the gun barrel.

Many gun cleaning devices include cleaning rods comprising multiple rodsections threadably attached end-to-end. Some known cleaning systemsprovide for a variety of cleaning implements of different sizes andtypes that are selectively threadably attachable to the handle forcleaning guns of different calibers and types. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,674,218of Boftomly and 4,901,465 of Hsu disclose examples of suchinterchangeable implement systems. However, the threaded connection usedin these systems is somewhat inconvenient, subject to inadvertentloosening during use, and prone to damage or stripping of threads.

Other known detachable connections between handles and implements of agun cleaning device require the use of collets or other attachmentsspecially sized to fit the particular size of cleaning rod or implementselected. The various sizes of tools and collets required to fitcleaning rods and implements of various diameters are subject to beingmisplaced or lost due to their small size.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,223 of Sipple et al. describes a gun cleaning toolhaving a handle and multiple removable tip elements for cleaning varioushard-to-reach surfaces of a gun. The handle includes an axial bore sizedto fit a shank portion of each tip element, and a spring-clip latchmechanism that moves transversely of the axis of the handle to engage arecess in an outer side of the shank to thereby retain the tip elementwithin the handle. To release the tip from the handle, a push-buttonmechanism in the side of the handle is depressed and moved transverselyof the handle axis to displace the spring clip from the recess. Sippleet al. provides for a threadless, quick-detachable connection betweenthe handle and various interchangeable implements. However, the cleaningtool of Sipple et al. is not suitable for cleaning the bore of a gunbarrel and, due to the structure of the latch mechanism, the cleaningimplements are not rotatable relative to the handle when attachedthereto.

The present inventors have recognized a need for improved gun barrelcleaning devices and systems.

SUMMARY

A gun barrel cleaning device includes a quick-detachable couplingmechanism releasably coupling a handle to a cleaning implement that maybe sized for insertion into and cleaning of a gun barrel bore. Thequick-detachable coupling mechanism includes a male part having an axis,a female part receiving the male part coaxially therein, and a latchingdevice slidably movable between an unlatched position and a latchedposition. When the latching device is in the unlatched position, thecleaning implement is readily detachable from the handle. When thelatching device is in the latched position, the cleaning implement isprevented from being detached from the handle. A thrust bearing ispreferably provided for supporting the cleaning implement on the handleand for facilitating rotation of the cleaning implement about its axisrelative to the handle.

In a preferred embodiment, one of the male and female parts of thequick-detachable coupling mechanism includes an axial bore and a detentball movable along a radially extending passage in response to slidingmovement of a latching device for engagement or disengagement with acircumferential groove in the other of the male and female parts of thequick-detachable coupling device. In a preferred embodiment, thelatching device is slidably movable axially between an unlatchedposition wherein a recess of the latching device is aligned radiallywith the passage to permit movement of the detent ball and release ofthe coupling, and a latched position wherein the latching deviceinterferes with movement of the detent ball to prevent the coupling fromreleasing. In other embodiments, the latching device is movablerotatably or in another direction or manner for releasing thequick-detachable coupling mechanism.

A gun barrel cleaning kit may include a variety of different cleaningimplements, each of which typically includes one of the male and femaleparts of the quick-detachable coupling mechanism sized to engage acorresponding mating part of the quick-detachable coupling mechanism inthe handle. A novel sheath for storing a cleaning implement is alsodisclosed herein. The sheath includes an inwardly extending mountingshoulder that engages an outer circumferential groove of the cleaningimplement, to thereby support the cleaning implement such that itsworking end does not touch the bottom of the sheath.

Additional aspects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdetailed description of preferred embodiments, which proceeds withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a gun cleaning kit including ahandle, a padded handle grip, multiple interchangeable gun barrelcleaning implements, and a sheath for storing one of the gun barrelcleaning implements;

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the handle of FIG. 1 connected to acleaning implement via a quick-detachable coupling mechanism;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the gun cleaning device of FIG. 2Ashown with a latching mechanism of the quick-detachable couplingmechanism depressed axially to an unlatched position;

FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the gun cleaning device of FIG. 2Bshown with the latching mechanism moved further axially so as to ejectthe cleaning implement from the handle; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of one of the cleaningimplements stored in the sheath of FIG. 1. Detailed Description ofPreferred Embodiments

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, a gun cleaning kit 10 includes a handle 12 anda variety of gun cleaning implements 14 interchangeably connectable tothe handle. Each cleaning implement 14 may be inserted into a protectivestorage sheath 16 for storage and shipping, as described below in detailwith reference to FIG. 3. Cleaning implements 14 may be provided in avariety of different lengths and gages sized to clean firearms ofdifferent calibers and various types of gun barrel bores. In addition,cleaning implements 14 may be equipped with a variety of differentbrushes, swabs, or jags at their working ends 18 for different cleaningapplications. An optional grip 20 is press fit or otherwise securedaround handle 12 to provide a comfortable and slip-resistant grippingsurface for handle 12. Each of the cleaning implements 14 is preferablyformed of a rigid, one-piece rod 34 for precision and durability.However, in some embodiments (not shown), cleaning implements 14 includecollapsible multisection rods or flexible shafts or cables for compactstorage and improved portability. Cleaning rod 34 may be made of any ofa variety of materials, such as brass, aluminum, stainless steel, orplastic, for example, and may be coated with protective coatings. Insome embodiments, a threaded brass fitting (not shown) is swaged ontothe working end of the rod, shaft, or cable, for replaceably fasteningstandard-sized cleaning brushes, jags, and other standard or nonstandardcleaning attachments thereto.

Grip 20 is preferably formed of a plastic or elastomeric material coatedwith a soft foam material. However, other materials may be used for grip20. An outer surface of grip 20 may be of a simple cylindrical shape, asshown, or may include contours for providing a more ergonomic grippingsurface. When grip 20 is installed on handle 12 (not shown), a closedend 22 of grip 20 preferably covers a latch release button 24 of handle12. The closed end 22 of grip 20 is sufficiently flexible so as to allowlatch release button 24 to be manually depressed from the outside ofgrip 20 for actuating a quick-detachable coupling mechanism 30, which isdescribed below with reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C. In someembodiments (not shown), grip 20 may be open at both ends, so that latchrelease button 24 is directly accessible through one of the open ends ofthe grip. In still other embodiments (not shown), the latch releasemechanism used is operable in a different manner and grip 20 issubstantially rigid at its closed end 22.

FIG. 2A shows an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a gun barrelbore cleaning device 26 comprising handle 12 and one of the cleaningimplements 14 of FIG. 1 coupled via a quick-detachable couplingmechanism 30. FIGS. 2B and 2C show how cleaning implement 14 is detachedfrom handle 12. With reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, cleaningimplement 14 is shown truncated to omit a working end 18 thereof (FIG.1). Rod 34 of cleaning implement 14 is preferably rigidly connected to afemale part 38 of coupling mechanism 30. Preferably, several transversegrooves 40 are provided in cleaning rod 34 near its mounting end 42 andinserted into a mounting bore 44 of female part 38 before a neck portion46 of female part 38 is swaged around mounting end 42. The swagingprocess causes some of the material of neck portion 46 to flow intogrooves 40 to form a strong mechanical connection between female part 38and cleaning rod 34. The swaging process may leave distinctive patternof swage marks 48 (FIG. 3) around the outer diameter of neck portion 46.Other attachment means, such as adhesives, welding, and threadedfasteners may also be utilized. In still other alternative embodiments,cleaning rod 34 and female part 38 may be formed of unitaryconstruction.

Female part 38 includes a bore 52 (FIG. 2C) sized to receive a male part54 of quick-detachable coupling mechanism 30 coaxially therein. Axes 56a, 56 b (FIG. 2C) of respective male and female parts 54 and 38 arecoincident with centerline 56. Male part 54 is supported at an end ofhandle 12 and preferably comprises an end portion of a sleeve section 60of handle 12. At least one, and preferably four, detent balls 66 aresupported by male part 54 in one or more radially extending passages 70for movement between a first position (FIG. 2A), seated in acircumferential groove 74 formed within bore 52 of female part 38, and asecond position (FIG. 2C), retracted from the circumferential groove 74.In a preferred embodiment, four radially extending passages 70 aresymmetrically arranged in a cross pattern lying in a plane perpendicularto the centerline 56 of sleeve section 60; however, in otherembodiments, passages 70 may be at an incline relative to sleeve section60. In the first position, detent balls 66 engage circumferential groove74 to prevent cleaning implement 14 from being detached from handle 12.In the embodiment shown, radial passages 70 communicate with an axialbore 76 of sleeve section 60. A latching device 80 of thequick-detachable coupling mechanism 30 preferably includes an elongateplunger 84 axially movable within the axial bore 76 between a latchedposition (FIG. 2A), wherein plunger 84 interferes with movement ofdetent balls 66 to maintain detent balls 66 in the first position, andan unlatched position (FIGS. 2B and 2C), wherein a recess 88 of plunger84 is aligned radially with passages 70 to permit movement of detentballs 66 from the first position (FIG. 2A) to the second position (FIGS.2B and 2C) and to thereby allow decoupling of the female and male parts38, 54 of quick-detachable coupling mechanism 30.

A spring 92 is provided for biasing plunger 84 toward the latchedposition (FIG. 2A) relative to sleeve section 60 and relative to ahandle body 94 in which sleeve section 60 is mounted. Plunger 84 isactuated and moved toward the unlatched position (FIGS. 2B and 2C) bygrasping handle body 94 and manually depressing the latch release button24, which comprises an end of plunger 84 that projects from handle 12.In the preferred embodiment, spring 92 is captured in a counterbore 96formed in a butt end 98 of sleeve section 60 between the bottom ofcounterbore 96 and a spring retaining snap-ring 102 that seats in anouter circumferential groove (unnumbered) in plunger 84. The travel ofplunger 84 and spring retaining snap-ring 102 is limited in the latchingdirection (toward the top of FIGS. 2A-2C) by stop washer 106, which isretained by an outer retainer snap-ring 108 seated in an innercircumferential groove 112 formed in sleeve section 60. Stop washer 106and counterbore 96 define an axial travel “B” of plunger 84 that isgreater than a distance “A” between a distal end 116 of plunger 84 and afloor 118 of female part 38 when female and male parts 38, 54 arecoupled, so that plunger 84 is movable an axial distance sufficient topress distal end 116 against floor 118 and forcibly eject female part 38from male part 54, i.e., to force the female and male parts 38, 54apart.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the male part (rather than thefemale part) of the quick-detachable coupling mechanism is mounted tothe end of cleaning implement 14 for seating in axial bore 76 of sleevesection 60, and the latching device comprises a collar or sleeveslidably supported around sleeve section 60 and movable axially toselectively inhibit or allow radially outward movement of detent balls66. The quick-detachable coupling mechanism and collar type latchingdevice of this alternative embodiment may be similar to thequick-detachable coupling mechanisms described in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,663,796 of Helling et al. and 6,070,501 of Braun et al., for example.In still other alternative embodiments (not shown), latching device 80is a plunger or collar that is rotatably actuated (rather than axiallymovable) to selectively inhibit or allow movement of detent balls, asdescribed for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,152,645 of Sanford and6,511,100 of Le Clinche. In still other embodiments, female and maleparts 38, 54 may be formed in shapes other than cylindrical, such asrectangular, for example. In yet other alternative embodiments, detentmechanisms not employing balls or circumferential grooves may be used toperform the same operational functions of the ball detentquick-detachable coupling mechanisms described above. For example,circumferential groove 74 may be replaced by one or more sockets eachaligned radially with one of the passages 70. Thus, the scope of theterms “quick-detachable coupling mechanism” and “detent mechanism”should be construed expansively unless otherwise indicated by thecontext.

Sleeve section 60 is rotatably supported on handle body 94 via a firstthrust bearing 132 and a second thrust bearing 134 located near oppositeends of handle 12. Thrust bearings 132, 134 facilitate axial rotation ofcleaning implement 14 relative to handle 12 as cleaning implements 14pass through a rifled gun bore, thereby preventing damage and wearing ofrifling surfaces inside a rifle bore. Two sets of thrust bearings areprovided in the preferred embodiment, to facilitate axial rotationduring both pushing and pulling of cleaning implement 14 through a gunbarrel bore.

First and second thrust bearings 132, 134 include respective first andsecond sets of ball bearings 142, 144 retained in respective first andsecond counterbores 152 (FIG. 2C), 154 formed in opposite ends of handlebody 94 via first and second bearing retaining rings 162,164 that snapinto first and second outer circumferential grooves 172, 174 in sleevesection 60. First and second shoulders 182,184 of respectivecounterbores 152, 154 form inner bearing races for thrust bearings 132,134, and retaining washers 192, 194 form outer bearing races of thrustbearings 132, 134. Retaining washers 192, 194 also cooperate to holdsleeve section 60 to handle body 94. In an alternative embodiment (notshown), ball bearings 142, 144 are replaced by solid bushings, such asflat washers formed of a low-friction material like DELRIN® acetal resinsold by E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. Skilled persons willappreciate that a solid bearing material could also be used to providethrust bearing functionality in two opposing loading directions via asingle bearing, by using a structure such as the one disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 3,208,302 of Lewis et al. at column 2, lines 6-13 and FIG. 3thereof.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of cleaningimplement 14 shown inserted into and stored in sheath 16. With referenceto FIG. 3, sheath 16 includes a tube 302 that is preferably formed of atransparent extruded plastic material that allows cleaning implement 14to be examined from outside sheath 16. A cap 306 is provided at one endof tube 302. At the other end is a collar 310 including an inwardlyextending shoulder 314 formed of a resilient material. When cleaningimplement 14 is inserted into sheath 16, shoulder 314 seats in an outercircumferential mounting groove 320 formed in female part 38, to therebysupport cleaning implement 14 so that its working end 18 does not touchcap 306 at the bottom of sheath 16, thereby protecting working end 18from damage during storage and transport.

Throughout the specification, reference to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” or “some embodiments” means that a particular describedfeature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least oneembodiment. Thus appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in anembodiment,” or “in some embodiments” in various places throughout thisspecification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.Furthermore, the described features, structures, characteristics, andmethods may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the variousembodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific detailsor with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances,well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or notdescribed in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the embodiments.

It will be apparent to those having skill in the art that many changesmay be made to the details of the above-described embodiments withoutdeparting from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope ofthe present invention should, therefore, be determined only by theclaims.

1. A gun barrel cleaning device, comprising: a handle; an elongate gunbarrel cleaning implement sized for insertion into a gun barrel; and aquick-detachable coupling mechanism releasably coupling the handle tothe cleaning implement, the quick-detachable coupling mechanismincluding a male part having an axis, a female part receiving the malepart coaxially therein, and a latching device, located within thehandle, slidably movable axially between an unlatched position in whichthe cleaning implement is detachable from the handle and a latchedposition preventing the cleaning implement from being detached from thehandle.
 2. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 1, further comprisinga thrust bearing supporting the cleaning implement on the handle andfacilitating rotation of the cleaning implement relative to the handle.3. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 1 wherein, further comprisinga spring for biasing the latching device toward the latched position. 4.The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 1 wherein: the quick-detachablecoupling mechanism includes a detent ball; one of the male part and thefemale part of the quick-detachable coupling mechanism is supported atan end of the cleaning implement and includes a circumferential groove;and the other of the male part and the female part is supported on thehandle and includes an axial bore and radially extending passage alongwhich the detent ball is movable between a first position seated in thecircumferential groove and a second position retracted from thecircumferential groove.
 5. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 4wherein the latching device includes a recess aligned radially with thepassage to permit movement of the detent ball from the first position tothe second position and a latched position wherein the latching deviceinterferes with movement of the detent ball from the first position tothe second position.
 6. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 4wherein the male part is supported on the handle, the axial bore isformed in the male part, and the latching devise is supported in theaxial bore.
 7. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 1 wherein anouter circumferential mounting groove is formed in an end of thecleaning implement.
 8. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 1 whereinthe latching device is axially movable to force the male and femaleparts of the quick-coupling mechanism apart.
 9. A gun cleaning kitincluding the gun barrel cleaning device of claim
 1. 10. A gun barrelcleaning device comprising: a handle; an elongate cleaning implementhaving an axis; a quick-detachable coupling mechanism releasablycoupling the handle to the cleaning implement, the quick-detachablecoupling mechanism including a latching device slidably movable betweenan unlatched position in which the cleaning implement is detachable fromthe handle and a latched position preventing the cleaning implement frombeing detached from the handle; and a plurality of thrust bearings at afirst end of the handle and a plurality of thrust bearings at a secondend of the handle supporting the cleaning implement on the handle andfacilitating rotation of the cleaning implement about its axis relativeto the handle.
 11. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 10 whereinthe thrust bearing includes ball bearings.
 12. The gun barrel cleaningdevice of claim 10 wherein the thrust bearing includes a first thrustbearing part that bears the load of axial movement of the cleaningimplement in a first direction and a second thrust bearing part thatbears the load of axial movement of the cleaning implement in a seconddirection opposite the first direction.
 13. (canceled)
 14. The gunbarrel cleaning device of claim 10 wherein: the quick-detachablecoupling mechanism includes a male part having an axis, a female partreceiving the male part coaxially therein, and a detent ball; one of themale part and the female part is supported in an end of the cleaningimplement and includes a circumferential groove; and the other of themale part and the female part is supported on the handle and includes anaxial bore and a radially extending passage along which the detent ballis movable between a first position seated in the circumferential grooveand a second position retracted from the circumferential groove.
 15. Thegun barrel cleaning device of claim 14 wherein the latching deviceincludes a recess aligned radially with the passage to permit movementof the detent ball from the first position to the second position and alatched position wherein the latching device interferes with themovement of the detent ball from the first position to the secondposition.
 16. The gun barrel cleaning device of claim 10 wherein thelatching device is axially movable to force the male and female parts ofthe quick-coupling mechanism apart.
 17. A gun cleaning kit including thegun barrel cleaning device of claim
 10. 18. A gun barrel cleaningdevice, comprising: a handle; a cleaning implement sized for insertioninto a gun barrel; and a quick-coupling mechanism releasably couplingthe handle to the cleaning implement, the quick-coupling mechanismcomprising a male part having an axis, a female part receiving the malepart coaxially therein, and a detent ball, one of the male part and thefemale part supported at an end of the cleaning implement and having acircumferential groove, and the other of the male part and the femalepart supported on the handle and having an axial bore and a radiallyextending passage along which the detent ball is movable between a firstposition seated in the circumferential groove and a second positionretracted from the circumferential groove, the quick-coupling mechanismfurther comprising a latching device, located within the handle,slidably movable relative to the other of the male part and the femalepart between an unlatched position wherein a recess of the latchingdevice is aligned radially with the passage to permit movement of thedetent ball from the first position to the second position and a latchedposition wherein the latching device interferes with movement of thedetent ball from the first position to the second position.
 19. The gunbarrel cleaning device of claim 18, further comprising a thrust bearingsupporting the cleaning implement on the handle and facilitatingrotation of the cleaning implement relative to the handle.
 20. The gunbarrel cleaning device of claim 18 wherein the latching device isaxially movable to force the male and female parts of the quick-couplingmechanism apart.
 21. A gun cleaning kit including the gun barrelcleaning device of claim
 18. 22-25. (canceled)